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associated with a serial killer. Twenty years later, she had to face some old demons.
    She entered Ray's office and shook his hand. "Wow! You're the Chief of Police now. Congratulations!" she said with a sincere smile on her face. She contemplated the other men, Parker Reynolds and Brian Baker, with a little apprehension. Then, she spotted Dantzler in the corner sitting with his fingers steepled. "What's going on?" she demanded.
    Ray said, "Sit down, please." He indicated a chair with his hand and introduced her to the other men. "I know this is awkward, but do you remember Brian Baker and Lawrence Dantzler?"
    "I can never forget them." She looked toward Parker, who gave her a smile.
    "Ahem." Ray said, "This is my son, Parker. He's a cop too." Then he spoke candidly with her. "Have you heard about the recent murders of law enforcement officers involved in Latrice's case?"
    "No."
    "Well, there have been three—Christine Gautier, Patrick Swift, and Steve Journey."
    She looked around like a caged animal searching for escape. Finally, she sank into the chair Ray had pointed to.
    Retaking his own seat, "Alicia," he said, "first, I want you to know I don't think you've had anything to do with these recent killings."
    "That's good to hear." She breathed a sigh of relief. "When I left here, I wanted to get as far away as possible. I thought distance could help me forget that nightmare period of my life. Nobody up there knows anything about it. I'd like to keep it that way."
    "So would I," assured Ray. "That's one reason I wanted you here and none of us there. We need your help. We really think this might have something to do with Latrice. What can you tell us about her we don't already know?"
    "I have no idea. I was so manipulated. I really thought she'd take the pain away. How could I have been so blind?"
    "You were a child—an abused child."
    She fiddled with her purse strap. "Mr. Ray, you could have asked me over the phone, saved the taxpayer some money."
    "I know, but I thought location might jar your memory." He gave her a smile. "And I personally paid for your flight. It's good to see you."
    Remembering some of the rogue things Ray had done, she shook her head and grinned. The man will never change. Still doing things his way, just like when he traded places with his twin to catch Latrice in the act. "The things I remember are she talked about her mother a lot—her mother and somebody named Lloyd."
    "Was her mother in Europe?" asked Parker from a chair on Alicia's right.
    She turned toward him. "I don't think so. I think she was in the States."
    "And you have no idea who Lloyd was?"
    "No, sorry."
     

    Alicia really had nothing to offer, so after Ray took her to lunch to reassure her that no one held any ill will toward her and to catch up on her life, Parker drove her to New Orleans to catch a flight back to Buffalo.
    "You're really good," said Alicia on the drive.
    "Excuse me?" said Parker.
    "You're good at picking up on things that other people might miss like the fact that Latrice's mother might have been in the States and not deported in the beginning, but you're not a detective. Is that why you were in that awkward meeting? Why aren't you a detective?
    "I've only been on the force about a year and a half."
    "So? Do you have to be a cop a certain length of time?"
    "Not really." He stretched his crystal blue eyes wide. "But most people become police officers first for the experience from working the street. Usually, at least five years of experience could help. In Eau Boueuse, you have to take a test."
    "So, take the test. If you're gonna do the work, you should have the title and the income."
    "I'm doing the work because I promised my aunt I would catch her killer." He glanced at his passenger.
    "That's commendable, but you could benefit more than your aunt."
    "It's a thought. I'll see what my dad thinks."
    Their conversation turned to mundane things for the rest of the trip.
    Finally at the airport, Parker said, "Well,